Statements & Press Releases

Statement ∙
Equality Florida Responds to AHCA Report on Treatment of Gender Dysphoria
Equality Florida criticized a Florida Agency for Health Care Administration report on treating gender dysphoria, saying it builds on debunked Department of Health guidance and misrepresents data to deny transgender Floridians access to care during Pride Month.
Equality Florida
Press Release ∙
Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith Named to TIME100
TIME named Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith to its 2022 TIME100 list of the world's most influential people, recognizing decades of LGBTQ advocacy as Florida became a center of the fight against anti-LGBTQ legislation.
Equality Florida Nadine Smith
Statement ∙
Fears Vindicated As “Don’t Say Gay” Legislation Harms Florida Students
Equality Florida said fears about the 'Don't Say Gay' law were vindicated as Florida schools censored students before the law took effect, including a Sarasota senior barred from referencing his activism in a graduation speech and yearbook and newspaper censorship.
LGBTQ
Statement ∙
Equality Florida Responds to FL Department of Health Guidance Opposing Affirming Care for Transgender Children
Equality Florida responded to non-binding Florida Department of Health guidance opposing gender-affirming care for transgender children, saying the DeSantis administration is replacing science with political propaganda and intruding into doctors' offices.
Equality Florida
Statement ∙
Equality Florida Joins Lawsuit to Challenge ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Law
Equality Florida joined a federal lawsuit filed by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Kaplan Hecker & Fink, and Florida families challenging the 'Don't Say Gay' law (HB 1557) as unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.
Equality Florida
Statement ∙
Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Discriminatory ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Into Law
Governor Ron DeSantis signed the 'Don't Say Gay' bill (HB 1557) into law at a charter school exempt from its provisions; Equality Florida called it cowardly and vowed to see the law overturned in court or repealed by the legislature.
LGBTQ
Statement ∙
Equality Florida Condemns Passage of the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill by the Florida Legislature
Equality Florida condemned the Florida Legislature's passage of the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, vowing to lead legal action against the state if the law harms any child, teacher, or family, and thanked students, volunteers, and lawmakers who opposed it.
Equality Florida
Press Release ∙
Florida Senate Rejects Reasonable Amendments to “Don’t Say Gay” bill, Full Vote Looms
The Florida Senate rejected amendments aimed at mitigating the harm of the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, setting up a final vote; Equality Florida said it is prepared to join legal action against the state if the bill harms any child, teacher, or family.
LGBTQ Voting
Statement ∙
Equality Florida Condemns Anti-LGBTQ Remarks By DeSantis Spokesperson
Equality Florida condemned DeSantis Press Secretary Christina Pushaw's tweets accusing opponents of the 'Don't Say Gay' bill of being pedophiles, saying the governor owns the rhetoric and that it reveals the bill's intent to erase LGBTQ people.
Equality Florida LGBTQ
Statement ∙
Equality Florida Celebrates Powerful Statewide Student Walkouts Opposing “Don’t Say Gay” Bill
Equality Florida celebrated statewide student walkouts protesting the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, including a march of more than 100 Tallahassee-area students into the Capitol, and urged the Florida Senate to reject the legislation.
Equality Florida